Glasgow | Public Realm | News & Developments

[M_Riaz]

A new 7 acre public park is being developed allowing residents, the surrounding community and local workforce access for the first time to the River Clyde in this area. The size of six football pitches, it will feature a waterway and fountains, providing a stunning outlook for the riverside housing.
Access to the park will be available both from the newly upgraded Kings Inch Road or from the riverside walkway which will extend from the boardwalk at Braehead Shopping Centre to the Renfrew Ferry.

[M_Riaz]

Elder park plans for the future.

The Parks Development Programme approved in 2005/06 totalled £3.8M, £1.1M of which has
been released for local parks’ projects and development of schemes.
The remaining £2.7M was earmarked for the Council’s contribution to Elder Park and match
funding for environmental improvement projects.
2. ELDER PARK PROGRESS
2.1 Background
Parks and Facilities Committee of 18 May 2005 agreed the submission of a Stage One bid to
Heritage Lottery Fund for Elder Park, and agreed to a £2,000,000 Capital contribution to the
project. The bid was submitted to HLF in June 2005, seeking an HLF contribution of £2,500,000.
HLF responded on 27 October 2005, raising a number of issues regarding the bid and seeking
resolution of the following:-
• Future use/audience development
• Specific proposals for the buildings within the Park, specifically the Farmhouse
• Interpretation and Communications strategies
• Security concerns about the Park
• Staffing levels, specifically dedicated Parks staff
Whilst efforts have been made to resolve these issues, most recent HLF advice, taking into
account the enhanced standard of application and reduction in available funding, strongly
indicates that the project will not be sufficiently advanced for the Board to recommend approval at
their June meeting. Accordingly, the Stage 1 bid has been withdrawn as a prudent measure to
protect not just this project, but the wider relationship between the Council and HLF.
2.2 Options for Resubmission
HLF have now closed the programme under which the Elder Park submission was made (Public
Parks Initiative) and have replaced it with a new programme, Parks For People. This new
programme has some significantly different assessment criteria including:
• Increasing the range of audiences
• Increasing the range of volunteer involvement
• Improved skills and knowledge through training
• Provision of a costed management plan to Green Flag standard.
HLF are also expecting each project to have a dedicated project manager and project board, full
risk register and measurements of success in place.
HLF have confirmed that Elder Park and the objectives behind the project have every potential to
meet the requirements of the new programme, but are not yet at that stage.
This will require a reconsideration of the management of the processes involved in the
submission, with consideration being given to the establishment of a dedicated central resource
to manage any future submissions.
Further, a fuller options appraisal of the city’s Parks may be required to support the selection of
Elder Park as the city’s priority for HLF investment.

Elder Park Boathouse - £200,000
The local communities around Elder Park have been supportive of a bid to Heritage Lottery Fund
for a major refurbishment project for the Park, and have been engaged in this process since
1998. HLF funding has not been secured to date, and is unlikely to be available before
September 2008 at the earliest. Land Services would wish to ensure local community
engagement in the project is not lost and is proposing to refurbish the Boathouse, which would
serve general park users, the Boat Club and local sports clubs, at a cost estimated at £200,000.

[Chief]

Having spent the past few days in Madrid, I have to say that the public realms here are truly beautiful places to be. They've maintained the character of the historic central areas fantastically well - renewed stone paving, short-height bollards and aesthetically pleasing barriers along the edges of pavements, and many, many stunning plazas and fountains.

I'm now of the opinion that what George Square needs is a high profile fountain commission; I think something modern with maybe a hint to the city's shipping past, on a large scale would be a real boost to the area, and give people something to congregate around.

[The Boy David]

Originally Posted by Chief

Having spent the past few days in Madrid, I have to say that the public realms here are truly beautiful places to be. They've maintained the character of the historic central areas fantastically well - renewed stone paving, short-height bollards and aesthetically pleasing barriers along the edges of pavements, and many, many stunning plazas and fountains.

I'm now of the opinion that what george square needs is a high profile fountain commission; I think something modern with maybe a hint to the city's shipping past, on a large scale would be a real boost to the area, and give people something to congragate round.

Would love to go to Madrid - glad you're enjoying it

With regards to George's Square - it's old news now that something drastic must be done to improve it, but with regards to having a focal point like the fountain you speak of, I think the Column is supposed to be just that. People do gather around it, problem is that it's not that great to look at in the first place...

[M_Riaz]

I thought i'd highlight this exhibition @ the RADIUS Headquarters in Pollokshields this saturday sounds quite interesting.

BBC



Community greens for 21st Century

A village green that can be rolled up and transported around a community is one of four concepts for the 21st Century to go on display in Glasgow.
Other prototypes include hi-tech mobile street benches, 3D electronic noticeboards and a village green under a glasshouse

Coming up at the Radius Shop
Community Green Exhibition



The Community Green project began as an ideas competition to explore notions of what a 21st century village green could be, using Pollokshields as the an inspiration and test bed.

The related exhibition at the Radius Shop, presents four prototype concepts by multi-disciplinary Scottish teams which aim to increase communication and participation in Pollokshields. On show will be experimental street furniture, 3D electronic information-sharing points, modular green spaces, and mobile platforms for public interaction.

Open Tuesday to Friday 10.30am till 4pm.
The Radius Shop, 423 Shields Rd, Pollokshields.
Exhibition Runs until August 16.

*Community Green Opening Sat 8 July 12 noon till 4pm
Tea and cakes will be served, free activities for kids.

[M_Riaz]

Halcrow's involvemet in the renewal of The Kelvingrove Art Museum.

[Momus]

Is "oodles of space in the basement" a technical term then???

[M_Riaz]

Prospect


A new public square for Pollokshields.

[Chief]

Mo, thanks for that Halcrow site; those wee videos are pretty cool!

[M_Riaz]

Looks like the Govanhill baths might be saved from demolition if the trust can justify the council on reopening it as a multi purpose cultural centre.

Item 5 for the council doc on this.

Govanhill Baths : Feasibility Study by Govanhill Baths Community Trust

Purpose of Report:
To advise members of the content of the feasibility study submitted by Govanhill Baths Community Trust and to recommend that the Committee agrees, in principle, to lease then Govanhill Baths Complex to the Trust on condition that it can raise the necessary finance to undertake the capital works, by the end of July 2007.

Recommendations:
It is recommended that the Executive Committee:
a) Agrees, in principle, to lease the former Govanhill Baths complex to the Govanhill Baths Community Trust, for a 99 Year period (other terms still to be agreed) on condition that the Trust has the necessary capital and revenue funding secured by 31 July 2007.
b) Agrees, that if the Trust does not meet this deadline, the property should be disposed of on the open market.

Nord have done a study on the proposal.

[M_Riaz]

http://www.nordarchitecture.com/publicconv.html#


Kelvingrove Park Public Convenience

The existing public toilets are built into an embankment at the periphery of Kelvingrove Park, one of Glasgow’s finest Victorian green spaces. On the street side the toilets face onto Woodlands, a large residential area of the city where tenant occupied flatted housing exceeds owner occupied dwellings. To service this area it is proposed that a communal facility is introduced in the form of a laundry or ‘Steamie’ as they were called historically in Glasgow. Before launderettes and washing machines were widespread, Glasgow’s housewives met up at the ‘Steamie’ to wash the family laundry and exchange gossip; they were places of communal activity and vibrant social interaction.

[loose canon]

glasweegians maybee should put their money where their mouth is on the george sq isue by paying a tenner extra on their c tax too pay towards a more modern sq oh just for one year though as its already way to high I know I would as its suposed to be the centre piece of this fine city

[M_Riaz]

Revamp Plan of Mansfield Park in partick. love this wee plan, great public space for the people of partick.

[outofchaosaworld]

Originally Posted by M_Riaz

Revamp Plan of Mansfield Park in partick. love this wee plan, great public space for the people of partick.

Excellent, somewhere luxurious for the neds to hang out Its a good plan but i wonder about the flexibility of it when you see the space used by the farmers market just now. Hopefully the Sutherland Hussey pavillion is still part of the plans though that isnt clear from the image.

[M_Riaz]

ZM's project on the Bellahouston House for an Art Lover Pavillion.

House for an art lover pavillion

This project originated from the “Art in the Park” initiative organised by House of an Art Lover.
The proposal has been developed to provide additional public functions, studio, education and exhibition space supplementing the house’s main activities.
In design terms the building is a garden pavilion that wraps around the formal edge of the walled garden.

It is a concept that is supported by Glasgow City Council’s new parks initiative, to enhance visitor experience and facilities of their City Parks.
Inspired by the “Miegakure” garden architecture of Japan, the design uses bamboo screens and transitional spaces to enrich the sensory experience.

Client: Glasgow City Council
Location: Bellahouston Park, Glasgow
Contract sum: £1.5 Million
Contractor: -
Completed: -
Floor Area: -

[M_Riaz]

More development @ Bellahouston Park.

ET

£200,000 boost for city ski centre

A GRANT of £200,000 has been awarded to help the redevelopment of the Glasgow Ski and Snowboard Centre.

The money will see a new ski slope built at Bellahouston Park for freestyle users and will include a jump, half-pipe and rails, as well as improved floodlighting.

Disabled facilities will also be upgraded with an improved tow on the main slope, allowing easier access.

continued...The £200,000 grant from sportscotland will allow the work to be finished by September.

GCC Minutes

BELLAHOUSTON SKI CENTRE EXTENSION
Purpose of Report:
The purpose of this report is to inform members of a proposed extension to Bellahouston Ski Centre.

[M_Riaz]

Botanic Gardens amongst other parks are due for further investment from gcc parks dept

There is a competition ongoing for a new design for a visitor centre within the Botanic gardens, as well as the recent renewal of Kibble Palace.

Glasgow City Council, wishes to appoint an Landscape Architectural Consultant to carry out the following services for Glasgow Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre.
The work is based on The Landscape Institute (LI) Landscape Consultant's appointment , supplemented as appropriate to deal with this Project's requirements.
The work involved will include but not be limited to the following:
Project management and supervision of the landscape commission of this project to completion of the landscape works including any maintenance period.
Familiarisation with feasibility study and the brief for the commission.
Liaison and working on this project with an architectural consultant separately appointed at the start of the commission.
Preparation of the detailed landscape design, and cost, for a new build Visitor Centre in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens for Client approval.
Preparation of all documents and drawings required to obtain planning consent and to award and finalise the Works contract.
Undertaking any other duties as required by the Brief.

[The Boy David]

Went round Kibble Palace on Saturday - it was very pleasant and quite impressive, considering it's free. Doesn't take long to navigate, though. There's a great sense of space in the middle area - plenty of trees, plants and sculptures(?!) to look at and all that, but not so much that you don't know where to look next..

The Glass House was also quite enjoyable (and nice nad warm ) - the pyramidal centre is cracking inside. It's not in the same league as, say, Aberdeen's 'Winter Gardens', but it's grand none-the-less.



IMO a visitor centre seems slightly unnecessary to be honest - the park is so small it's contents and layout are pretty self explanatory. A cafe of some description would still be top of my list for additions for the Botanics.

[legslikeaspider]

Originally Posted by The Boy David

IMO a visitor centre seems slightly unnecessary to be honest - the park is so small it's contents and layout are pretty self explanatory. A cafe of some description would still be top of my list for additions for the Botanics.

I think there is already a visitor centre; its in a shabby wee building to the east of the main glasshouse, close to the Queen Margaret Drive exit. I could be wrong about that though; its so unnecessary I've never felt the need to confirm its existence.

There used to be a very pleasant cafe in one of the front wings of Kibble Palace. I'm surprised they haven't got one open there now.

[milton]

It'd be nice if they'd do up the glasshouses in Queen's Park too, and there are some in the East End too that I don't know what they're called. Think they're derelict.. would be nice to see investment spread about a bit.